Reports that he has been very busy. Remarks on 'Edward's boy [a student from Edward Benson's school, Wellington College?]' having been elected for a minor scholarship at Trinity College, and that he had written to Bradley to tell him of the faults of a boy of his who had been elected minor scholar. Observes that Bradley and Temple 'continue banging affectionately at each other in the Times.' Looks forward to vacation, but is sure that hard work is good for him on the whole. Reports that the weather is splendid. Wonders whether their 'usual concourse of May visitors will go on increasing' as it has in the previous few years. Predicts that the typical Cambridge man 'will be an antiquarian personage who knows about the history of the colleges and is devoted to "Culture des ruines"as the French pamphleteer said.' Refers to his friend Mozley having produced his article on Modern Poets in the Quarterly Review, and fears that it is dull. Believes that he ranks Clough high, and is glad 'as it will astonish the old-fashioned readers of the Quarterly. They will regard the editor as a literary Disraeli marching with his age'. States that he enquired about Christ's Hospital for 'young [Fred] Horton', but found that he was much too old.
Park Lodge, Wimbledon, S.W.—Rejects Nichol Smith’s criticism of the prospectus, and discusses the composition of the panel.
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Park Lodge, Wimbledon, S.W.
14 Jan. 1924
Dear McKerrow
We got home this afternoon & your letter arrived an hour later. I found one from Grierson accepting & wishing success.
I dont think Nichol Smith is in any way essential & as he was declining I thought his criticism unnecessary. {1} I told him I agreed generally that the most fruitful work of the last gener-ation had been English & not German but that that did not seem to me any objection to the sentence in the circular. I also said that while I had no desire to minister to German swelled head still less did I wish to pander to smug English selfcomplacency. So I expect he felt his knuckles rapped but being a nice fellow I hope he wont bear a grudge.
I am glad the appeal has been a success. I am not sure what representation we have from Cambridge—except on that score Chadwick is not the least essential. A. C. Bradley—except as an advertisement—would be no use at all me judice. {2}
Ever yours
W. W. Greg
I hope to be lunching on Thursday. {3}
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{1} See MCKW A3/11b.
{2} ‘In my judgement.’
{3} 17th.
Garden Corner, West Road, Cambridge. - Thanks Bob for his "Letter to Joan" [Allen, in Bob's privately printed "From the Shiffolds"]: it is a great thing to be able to express what one feels 'in this utter dissolution of all things that are good', and one needs to be, as Bob is, 'both poet and philosopher'. He himself is 'neither, creatively', but finds comfort in great poetry. Has been reading "[King] Lear", as well as [A.C] Bradley and Granville-Barker on the play. Feels "Lear" has a 'happy ending' even without [Nahum] Tate's alterations, since '[a]ll the bad people are killed and most of the good left to rule the land. In the real world this does not happen'. Notes in a postscript that the people at Wallington 'seem friendly & happy: Molly [is] much happier'.
5 Parkfield Road, Didsbury, Manchester.—Declines to contribute to the Review for the present, but offers to join the advisory panel, if older scholars have not been purposely excluded. Jonson (Herford and Simpson’s edition) is now going through the press.
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5 Parkfield rd. | Didsbury | Manchester.
11 Feb. ’24.
Dear Dr. McKerrow,
I am very glad to hear that the English Review, of which I had heard rumours, is now definitely in prospect. I would rather not undertake anything definitely for your first number, but I shall hope to be able to at any rate later on. In the meantime all good wishes for it.
Is your Board of Advisers intended to spare old stagers?—I see that it does not include names so honoured as those of Bradley & Saintsbury. But though technically on the retired list I hope I am not shelved in work; Simpson’s & my long-protracted Jonson is, as you probably know, now going thro’ the press. At any rate I am quite ready to join if you think proper.
Yours vy truly
C H Herford.
Expresses gratitude to Sidgwick for his 'kind words'. Recalls how her late husband [T. H. Green] was always so pleased to see him, and mentions the visits made by him and Mrs Sidgwick to Oxford. Explains that she had no time to write to her husband's friends about his illness. Refers to her husband's last wishes regarding his work, which he had nearly finished; she is to give it to Mr Andrew Bradley to publish. Reports that Johnnie has been to see her. Mentions that a volume of miscellaneous papers will be brought out later, to which there will be prefixed some biographical notes. Asks Sidgwick to 'put down any rough notes' of anything he remembers of her husband 'at Rugby or afterwards'. Expresses the hope that she will see him and Mrs Sidgwick some day.
Green, Charlotte Byron (1842-1929) promoter of women's educationBoard of Education.—Suggests sending copies of the prospectus to the English Association’s Publications Committee. Is concerned that the position of Bradley’s name may lead correspondents to write to him.
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Board of Education
28. ii. 24
Dear McKerrow,
The Prospectus looks very imposing with its enlarged list of names, and I think your proposed procedure is quite sound.
Might you now send a batch to Houghton {1} for distribution to the Publications Committee of the E. Assn at their next meeting (2nd Thursday in March, I think), with a covering letter bespeaking the welcome and support of the Assn?
It is a little awkward that Bradley’s name comes first (although it looks well), because it may lead people who get copies, if anyone does, without a covering letter, to write to him.
I rather wish you had added on the print, even at this stage, “Communications to R.B.McK. and your address”. It might be well to tell B., if anything not clearly meant as personal does come to him, to send it to you for acknowledgment and reply.
Yrs sincerely
E. K. Chambers
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{1} A. V. Houghton, secretary of the English Association from 1912 or 1913 to 1938.
54 Scarsdale Villas, Kensington, W.8.—Will do as he instructs (probably with regard to misdirected correspondence; see MCKW A3/21). Wishes the venture success.
(Dated 5 Mar. The year is clear from the context.)
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54 Scarsdale Villas | Kensington | W.8
March 5
Dear Dr McKerrow,
Many thanks for your thoughtful kindness, and for your instructions, which I will carry out in case of need.
I hope this venture will be a great success.
Yours truly
A. C. Bradley
4 Onslow Gardens. - Has only just read "The Bride of Dionysus", which George gave him, and found it 'delightful'. Had been reading the two odes about Theseus by Bacchylides the day before, inspired by a remark by 'W.P.K.' [William Paton Ker] in his "Art of Poetry", and so was pleased by the reminiscences of them in Bob's poem. It is an 'exercise', but the kind which can 'come from a poet'; wishes there were more like it. Finds Phaedra a little undeveloped as a character, but Theseus, Ariadne, Minos and Dionysus are 'great figures'. Has just received the Oxford Calendar with the news of his own nomination for the Chair of Poetry, but [H. W.] Garrod will be appointed since he will get the 'local vote'; when he reads Ker, [Walter] Raleigh and [A.C.] Bradley it is 'almost (not quite!) a delight to think [his] chances are very small!'. Adds a postscript saying that he sees that George is lecturing at Oxford.
95 Gower Street - Spoke to A. C. Bradley at the Royal Academy about electing [Edmund] Gosse, but are not sure of success, asks Frazer to support his candidacy; would like to have the Addison book, and discusses why he doesn't like him much.
Board of Education.—Encloses letters from some of those invited to join the advisory panel, and suggests an alteration to the prospectus.
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Board of Education
1 Jan. 1924
Dear McKerrow,
Elton, Chapman, and Miss Morley agree to join our panel. I think you had better file and keep the letters I enclose. We are asking Gordon; are we not?
Elton’s letter partly concerns other matters, but he says
“I shall be happy to join your panel and do what I can, but could not write much, being deeply booked for some time ahead. The Review is much wanted and the idea excellent.”
I also send Bradley’s letter. Perhaps we can turn the wording of the Prospectus, when we print it off, so as to leave room for the names of those in like case. From Miss Spurgeon I have not heard yet.
Yrs sincerely
E. K. Chambers
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This letter was accompanied by letters to Chambers from Edith J. Morley, R. W. Chapman, George S. Gordon, and A. C. Bradley (MCKW A3/8b–f).
(The Clarendon Press, Oxford.)—Clarifies the Press’s policy towards the new journal, and agrees to join the panel, with certain provisos. Chambers’s ‘great work’ is already being referred to as if it were a familiar work of reference.
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P 4509
28 December 1923
My dear Chambers,
Many thanks for your letter. My recollection (confirmed by my notes) is that we bade you God speed if you could secure the weight of Bradley’s name; but were afraid that if any less authoritative modernist were named as editor, the journal might look too like an unpaid duplicate of the Literary Supplement. Nor could we, though we had thought for ourselves, hit on anyone suitable who was likely to be able to give the necessary time, especially in view of the modest remuneration that we then (I think) contemplated.
I say this because I should be sorry that you or anyone should think that we would not have welcomed the enterprise with this editor and this ‘panel’. But of course I guess that this editor could not have been secured except on the terms indicated by the prospectus.
I am honoured by the invitation to join your panel, and very gladly accept it. My limitations will be understood. I could not sign any book review or survey; and it might be best that I shouldn’t review on any terms. I might, again, have to withold† interesting information, though in general I am in favour of as much publicity as possible about books in preparation. Perhaps I ought to add, ex abundante cautela, that if at any time it were desired to a[c]quaint the panel with facts which it was not desired that another publisher should know, I should of course expect to be excluded.
Subject to these limitations I shall be very glad indeed to give any help I can. Please put me down for two copies—one personal and one for the Secretary, Clarendon Press. I send you this in duplicate, that you may send McKerrow a copy if you like; and I have deposited a copy in the archives here.
I hope the reviews of the great work {1} have given you satisfaction. Not many books are referred to on publication as if they were already familiar works of reference.
Yours sincerely
E. K. Chambers Esq.,
Board of Education, London S.W.1.
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Carbon-copy of a typed original. There is no signature, though the letter is evidently from R. W. Chapman. Chambers struck through the last paragraph before sending the letter on to McKerrow.
{1} The Elizabethan Stage.
† Sic.
54 Scarsdale Villas, W.8.—Declines to join the advisory panel for the new Review. Will send for Chambers’s book tomorrow.
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54 Scarsdale Villas | W.8
Dec. 30
Dear Chambers,
Many thanks for the proof of the Review circular, which I am altogether glad to read; & as many for the invitation to have my name added to the panel. But this, I am sure after reflection I ought not to accept. My powers of work have been diminishing fast in 1923, and I am anxious to finish some things to add to un-collected pamphlets, and to get a volume out while I can. And for this purpose I mean to diminish what I do for the English Assn, and perhaps leave the Publications Sub-committee when the Annual Meeting comes; and, you will see at once, I could not do this and yet undertake anything of at all the same kind. But I am sorry, and none the less grateful.
I am delighted to see that your book is out and shall send for it tomorrow, and I congratulate you. Let us hope that tomorrow will not be so filthy as today, and that 1924 will start fair.
Yours sincerely
A. C. Bradley